Gyōkō-dōri

You're standing on Gyōkō-dōri, the broad avenue that links Tokyo Station with the palace. Gyōkō means an emperor's journey, and that is exactly what it was built for. After the great earthquake of 1923, Tokyo was being rebuilt, and this avenue was laid out between 1924 and 1926 for the emperor's trips between his palace and the station. It still has a ceremonial job. When a new ambassador arrives in Japan, they ride from the station down this avenue in a horse-drawn carriage, on their way to present their credentials to the Emperor. Most of the carriages are around a hundred years old. Very few countries still welcome diplomats like this. In bad weather, a limousine takes the carriage's place. Look down the middle of the avenue. The central lane was once kept for imperial journeys and ambassadors' carriages alone. Since 2010 you can walk on it too, except when a procession passes. The trees on either side are ginkgos, the official tree of Tokyo. And if you look towards the station end, you'll see its brick front framed perfectly at the end of the avenue.